President Donald Trump speaks with reporters earlier boarding Air Force One astatine Shannon Airport, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, successful Shannon, Ireland. Photo by: Julia Demaree Nikhinson / Associated Press
Associated Press
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 | 9:16 a.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Nicole Saphier, President Donald Trump's 3rd nominee to service arsenic surgeon general, appeared earlier lawmakers astatine her confirmation proceeding Wednesday successful the latest effort to capable the station known arsenic the nation's doctor.
Saphier, a radiologist and erstwhile Fox News Channel contributor, is Trump's newest prime aft entrepreneur and wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means saw her way guardant stall successful the Senate implicit her inheritance and vaccine views. Trump withdrew his archetypal nominee, Fox News aesculapian contributor Janette Nesheiwat, aft questions arose astir her world credentials. The presumption has been vacant passim Trump's 2nd term.
Saphier volition look questions from the Senate wellness committee for a presumption that carries constricted policymaking powerfulness but a large megaphone arsenic the nation's apical communicator with Americans connected nationalist wellness issues.
While senators whitethorn scrutinize her credentials and background, Saphier volition besides beryllium successful the hard presumption of navigating Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s much contentious policies, including his efforts to standard backmost vaccine guidance astatine a clip erstwhile the U.S. is enduring its worst twelvemonth for measles in decades. Lawmakers of some parties person criticized Kennedy's stances and are apt to grill Saphier implicit whether she'll much fiercely advocator vaccination if confirmed.
At the commencement of the Senate wellness committee hearing, seat Sen. Bill Cassidy noted the “serious wellness issues” facing the country, highlighting the measles deaths.
“That is going to beryllium a unspeakable bequest for this administration,” helium said, telling Saphier and different nominees appearing alongside her astatine the proceeding that helium hoped they would reconstruct the public’s assurance successful nationalist health.
Cassidy, who was defeated by a Trump-backed challenger successful his Republican superior earlier this year, past criticized what helium called the administration's “irresponsible” wellness argumentation leadership.
Saphier is manager of bosom imaging astatine Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, according to her illustration connected the New York-based institution’s website. She has a doc of medicine grade from Ross University School of Medicine successful Barbados on with fellowships astatine the Mayo Clinic, the illustration said.
Like Means, who is simply a adjacent Kennedy ally, Saphier has questioned whether each kid needs to get the hepatitis B vaccine astatine birth, a longtime proposal that the Trump medication has been trying to weaken. Saphier has, however, disagreed with Trump and Kennedy connected immoderate issues, telling The Associated Press past autumn that Trump's cautions to large women who instrumentality Tylenol were oversimplistic and “patronizing.”
Her latest ethics filing, dated Sept. 7, shows holdings with assorted healthcare and security firms, arsenic good arsenic processed nutrient companies, similar Coca-Cola, Yum Brands, the Hershey Co. and cigaret shaper Philip Morris.
Before entering authorities and passim his tenure astatine the wellness department, Kennedy has criticized large pharmaceutical companies and security firms for alleged corruption and decried ultraprocessed foods arsenic contributing to a nationwide chronic illness crisis.
Additionally, Saphier owns DropRx, a steadfast that produces controversial, unregulated tinctures — concentrated liquid extracts promoting absorption and calm — that incorporate ingredients, including kava kava root, described by the FDA as perchance causing terrible liver injury.
Her filing says she volition resign from her presumption with DropRx and Empower MD LLC, which owns DropRx, if she is confirmed.
She states successful the papers that she would partially oregon afloat divest from holdings that would contiguous a struggle to serving arsenic surgeon general.
Also facing lawmakers' questions Wednesday is Chris Klomp, main counsellor of the Health and Human Services Department, who has been nominated to service arsenic Kennedy's second-in-command. Also astatine the proceeding volition beryllium Timothy Westlake, main of unit astatine the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, who is seeking confirmation to beryllium adjunct caput for intelligence wellness and substance use.
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